How To Install YJ Half Doors on a TJ

JKLNHYD said:
If the half doors from a YJ fit a TJ, is it possible the interior door panels from a YJ would match a TJ? 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...
No because the interior side of a TJ door, full and half, has contours that don't exist on a YJ door which is basically flat on the inside. There may be other reasons but the contours were needed to accommodate the newer style of the TJ door latch. The location of the interior door handles on both doors is also quite different.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JKLNHYD
Ardenlonewolf said:
Picked up a set of full YJ soft doors yesterday off craigslist dirt cheap! I just added a 5/16 20 bolt and nut and washer and removed the top hex from the tj striker and turned it down. The YJ soft top fits pretty well on the lower half, upper half is not perfect but good enough summer wheeling and compared to paying over $500 for best top i'm happy with it as always wanted half doors.
View attachment 95350View attachment 95351
View attachment 95352
Click to expand...
How badly do those front corners pull away from the windshield at highway speeds? I’m looking to keep (some) rain out if I get caught out in a downpour; would they work in a pinch? I’ve found a good deal on a pair and considering it.
 
braddyg said:
Is it possible to just switch the handle/latch on the soft doors?
Click to expand...

Yes. I installed TJ "paddles" (not sure why they're called that) on a set of YJ soft doors and they worked fine without having to change any of the original TJ hardware on the door jamb. I bought Bestop paddles (Pt. # 5125201) at $96 CDN for the pair in 2016. I'm sure they'd be less if they came without the useless lock.

picture.jpg


As for the tops pulling way from the windshield, I did not try the ones I have at highway speed so I can't say. I picked up a pair of TJ replacement covers and I plan to strip the YJ soft covers off, cut, reshape and weld the YJ frames to suit and then install the new TJ covers. I'm pretty sure it will work I just need to find the time to do it.
 
Last edited:
So for anybody doing this mod. I just grabbed some fair YJ doors for $125 (US) . I will measure the length of the bolt needed, but I put in a 60mm and prb could have gotten by w/ a 55 or even a 50. Had some tube laying around and covered it in heat shrink to build it up. These are strictly summer doors so I deleted the window channel, filled the screw holes. Waiting for bedliner to get back in stock to add a second coat. May color match later this year. inners painted w/ satin Krylon for plastic, pretty damn close.
IMG_2073.jpg
IMG_2072.jpg

I think they look pretty good as it stands.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JMT and zebra12
PCO6 said:
I installed YJ half doors on my TJ and although this is nothing new I thought others might be interested in how it's done ... or at least how I did it.

For the half door bottoms the years don't matter as they're all the same. I have a 2003 TJ with MOPAR half doors from a 1992 YJ. I also have Best Top soft lower half doors. For the tops, I use Best Top TJ soft uppers and Black Hawk hard uppers with sliding windows. I have Best Top YJ soft uppers but they do NOT work as the windshield angle is different.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. Anyone know about YJ full doors? I'm guessing that the top corners wouldn't fit?
 
  • Like
Reactions: PCO6
PCO6 said:
I installed YJ half doors on my TJ and although this is nothing new I thought others might be interested in how it's done ... or at least how I did it.

For the half door bottoms the years don't matter as they're all the same. I have a 2003 TJ with MOPAR half doors from a 1992 YJ. I also have Best Top soft lower half doors. For the tops, I use Best Top TJ soft uppers and Black Hawk hard uppers with sliding windows. I have Best Top YJ soft uppers but they do NOT work as the windshield angle is different.

Here's what my TJ looks like with YJ half doors on it. The only external YJ give away is the 6 screws along the top edge that are used to fasten the black brackets for YJ uppers. I didn't install them of course.

View attachment 8629

Here is the striker "pin" that I put together from bits of hardware I had in my garage. It replaces the TJ striker "clip" and allows you to use the YJ half doors with their original latches. I'm sure using original YJ pins would be better and probably look better too.
View attachment 8630

This pic shows the original TJ striker "clip" on top and the YJ like striker "pin" that I fabricated on the bottom. Basically it's a 8M x 2" bolt with a 5/8" metal tube and some washers.
View attachment 8631

To install the pin, you need to enlarge the top hole on the TJ door pillar. I used a die grinder for this. Be carefull not to make the hole too large. When you reinstall the TJ clip for your original full doors it will cover up the enlarged hole.
View attachment 8632

You will have to shorten the interior door handle by about 3/4". As is,it is too long and interferes with the dashboard when you try to open the door. I used a Dremel tool with a cut off disc. As an aside, I did not reconnect the lock button to the latch. This is for anti-theft puposes. If I lock my doors from the outside you can not reach inside and unlock the doors. If you can't open the doors you can't lift them off. I also took both lock cylinders to the dealership and had them reset to match my ignition key. My key now operates my full and half doors, tail gate, ignition, glove box and console ... everything!
View attachment 8633

As mentioned, I use Best Top soft uppers for a TJ. This is where it gets messy. The 3 pins for the TJ uppers do not line up like they do for a YJ. The rear most pin is off set. I cut the pin as seen below. My intention was to thread the stub and make an adjustable vertical pin. I abandoned it at this point because, wouldn't you know it —- I FOUND A GREAT SET OF TJ HALF DOORS - TOPS AND BOTTOMS!!!
View attachment 8634

The following pics show the Best Top soft bottoms ...
View attachment 8635

... and the Black Hawk hard uppers which I have since painted matt black to better match the hard top ...
View attachment 8636

... and the tell tale YJ screws ...
View attachment 8637

The cost of making the pin was next to $0. I could not find a 8M universal pin at NAPA, CTC, etc. so I went with a bolt and some washers I had in my garage. The cost of having the doors painted was $280 which was fine with me. The doors were in great shape and did not require any body work. The guy did a great job on the paint and the colour match is perfect.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions I will try to answer them.
Click to expand...
Thanks for taking the time to put this all together for the rest of us!! Sure appreciate it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: PCO6
SSTJ said:
Thanks for this. Anyone know about YJ full doors? I'm guessing that the top corners wouldn't fit?
Click to expand...

Thanks and that's correct (won't fit). Not only are the top rear corners a bad fit, the windshield angle is different. I think the difference is about 4*, YJs being more upright. I guess Jeep figured they'd make the TJ more aerodynamically efficient. :unsure:
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: hear, lowranger and SSTJ
PCO6 said:
I installed YJ half doors on my TJ and although this is nothing new I thought others might be interested in how it's done ... or at least how I did it.

For the half door bottoms the years don't matter as they're all the same. I have a 2003 TJ with MOPAR half doors from a 1992 YJ. I also have Best Top soft lower half doors. For the tops, I use Best Top TJ soft uppers and Black Hawk hard uppers with sliding windows. I have Best Top YJ soft uppers but they do NOT work as the windshield angle is different.

Here's what my TJ looks like with YJ half doors on it. The only external YJ give away is the 6 screws along the top edge that are used to fasten the black brackets for YJ uppers. I didn't install them of course.

View attachment 8629

Here is the striker "pin" that I put together from bits of hardware I had in my garage. It replaces the TJ striker "clip" and allows you to use the YJ half doors with their original latches. I'm sure using original YJ pins would be better and probably look better too.
View attachment 8630

This pic shows the original TJ striker "clip" on top and the YJ like striker "pin" that I fabricated on the bottom. Basically it's a 8M x 2" bolt with a 5/8" metal tube and some washers.
View attachment 8631

To install the pin, you need to enlarge the top hole on the TJ door pillar. I used a die grinder for this. Be carefull not to make the hole too large. When you reinstall the TJ clip for your original full doors it will cover up the enlarged hole.
View attachment 8632

You will have to shorten the interior door handle by about 3/4". As is,it is too long and interferes with the dashboard when you try to open the door. I used a Dremel tool with a cut off disc. As an aside, I did not reconnect the lock button to the latch. This is for anti-theft puposes. If I lock my doors from the outside you can not reach inside and unlock the doors. If you can't open the doors you can't lift them off. I also took both lock cylinders to the dealership and had them reset to match my ignition key. My key now operates my full and half doors, tail gate, ignition, glove box and console ... everything!
View attachment 8633

As mentioned, I use Best Top soft uppers for a TJ. This is where it gets messy. The 3 pins for the TJ uppers do not line up like they do for a YJ. The rear most pin is off set. I cut the pin as seen below. My intention was to thread the stub and make an adjustable vertical pin. I abandoned it at this point because, wouldn't you know it —- I FOUND A GREAT SET OF TJ HALF DOORS - TOPS AND BOTTOMS!!!
View attachment 8634

The following pics show the Best Top soft bottoms ...
View attachment 8635

... and the Black Hawk hard uppers which I have since painted matt black to better match the hard top ...
View attachment 8636

... and the tell tale YJ screws ...
View attachment 8637

The cost of making the pin was next to $0. I could not find a 8M universal pin at NAPA, CTC, etc. so I went with a bolt and some washers I had in my garage. The cost of having the doors painted was $280 which was fine with me. The doors were in great shape and did not require any body work. The guy did a great job on the paint and the colour match is perfect.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions I will try to answer them.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback. I was hoping I would be able to install them without having to enlarge the striker hole.
 
CHAWK said:
Oh ok that’s good. So all you did is ptetty much remove the TJ latch and install a latch to fit the YJ door?
Click to expand...
Yep, removed TJ latch, bought YJ latch from qtec, used a few washers to space the latch correctly. Nice and easy. Might need to loosen the hinge bolts on the door to align the door to the latch perfectly.
1647199940795.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: JMT
PCO6 said:
As mentioned, I use Best Top soft uppers for a TJ. This is where it gets messy. The 3 pins for the TJ uppers do not line up like they do for a YJ. The rear most pin is off set. I cut the pin as seen below. My intention was to thread the stub and make an adjustable vertical pin. I abandoned it at this point because, wouldn't you know it —- I FOUND A GREAT SET OF TJ HALF DOORS - TOPS AND BOTTOMS!!!
View attachment 8634
Click to expand...

i know you abandoned at this point, but would there have been anything preventing TJ hard uppers from fitting on YJ lowers once you addressed this pin issue? Is the pin off longitudinally, laterally, or in both directions?
 
freedom_in_4low said:
i know you abandoned at this point, but would there have been anything preventing TJ hard uppers from fitting on YJ lowers once you addressed this pin issue? Is the pin off longitudinally, laterally, or in both directions?
Click to expand...
Only one of the pins is off, the one farthest to the back of the Jeep. The other two line up fine. You can cut it off and run the door (but it's sketchy on the highway) and then ideally reweld it offset a little bit. That is what I did and it works just fine
 
Last edited:
lBasket said:
Only one of the pins is off, the one farthest to the back of the Jeep. The other two line up fine. You can cut it off and run the door (but it's sketchy on the highway) and then ideally reweld it offset a little bit. That is what I did and it works just fine
Click to expand...

ok, good that's what I was wondering. Don't intend to run without it, just wanting to know whether it was close enough to easily weld something on or whether it requires deeper fabrication.
 
Top Bottom
Back